Glossary: healthcare data and SignalRx terms

Plain-English definitions of the healthcare data terms, acronyms and SignalRx terms used across these guides. Each guide spells out a term the first time it uses it. This page is the full reference.

SignalRx terms

• Fit Score: a score that predicts how valuable an account or contact is likely to become, based on how closely it matches your best customers.
• Fit Tier: the Fit Score grouped into four bands: High Fit, Moderate Fit, Low Fit and No Fit.
• Health Score: a score for an existing customer, built from the signals that predict growth or churn, such as usage, revenue and support.
• Health Tier: the Health Score grouped into four bands: Expand, Maintain, Triage and At Risk.
• Tags: labels SignalRx writes onto a record, such as ownership type, number of locations or a buying signal, so you can filter and segment on them.
• Revenue Play: a ready-made list and next step in Salesforce, such as a task, a sequence or an alert, that runs automatically for the accounts that qualify.
• Intelligence Card: the panel on a Salesforce Lead, Contact or Account that shows fit, health, segment, ownership and the signals behind them.
• Parent and child accounts: the owning group, MSO or platform (the parent) and the practices or locations it owns (the children).

Healthcare data sources

• NPI (National Provider Identifier): the unique 10-digit ID every US healthcare provider and organization uses for billing.
• NPPES (National Plan and Provider Enumeration System): the federal registry that issues NPIs. It lists each provider's specialty (taxonomy code) and practice address. Type 1 records are individual clinicians; Type 2 records are organizations.
• Taxonomy code: the code in NPPES that names a provider's specialty, for example family medicine or dermatology.
• CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services): the federal agency that runs Medicare and Medicaid and publishes facility, ownership and cost data.
• CCN (CMS Certification Number): the ID CMS gives a Medicare-certified facility, such as a hospital or skilled nursing facility.
• PECOS (Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System): Medicare's enrollment system. It shows which providers reassign their billing to which organization.
• HCRIS (Healthcare Cost Report Information System): CMS cost reports filed by hospitals and other facilities, including size and financial data.
• POS file (Provider of Services): a CMS file listing certified facilities with their type, size and ownership.
• HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration): the federal agency that funds and lists community health centers.
• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): the federal agency that lists behavioral health treatment facilities.

Types of healthcare organizations

• MSO (management services organization): a company that runs the business side of many practices, often backed by private equity.
• DSO (dental support organization): the dental version of an MSO, running many dental practices.
• PE (private equity): investors that buy and combine practices into larger platforms.
• Platform: the PE-backed company that owns or manages a group of practices.
• FQHC (federally qualified health center): a community health center that receives federal funding to serve underserved areas.
• IDN (integrated delivery network): a health system that owns hospitals, clinics and other care sites.
• IPA (independent practice association): a network of independent physicians that contract together.
• ACO (accountable care organization): a group of providers that share responsibility for the cost and quality of care for a patient population.
• CIN (clinically integrated network): a network of providers that work together on quality and contracting.
• GPO (group purchasing organization): an organization that negotiates purchasing contracts for its member facilities.
• SNF (skilled nursing facility): a facility that provides around-the-clock nursing and rehabilitation care.
• CCRC (continuing care retirement community): a senior living campus that offers independent living through skilled nursing care.
• ABA (applied behavior analysis): a therapy for autism; a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) is the clinician who leads it.
• PBM (pharmacy benefit manager): a company that manages prescription drug benefits for health plans.
• URAC, ACHC and NABP: organizations that accredit specialty pharmacies.
• REIT (real estate investment trust): a company that owns property, such as senior living buildings, often run by a separate operator.

Sales and software terms

• CRM (customer relationship management): the system that holds your accounts, contacts and deals, such as Salesforce.
• ICP (ideal customer profile): a description of the customers that are most valuable to you.
• TAM (total addressable market): every account you could sell to.
• MQL (marketing-qualified lead): a lead marketing has judged ready for sales, usually because they engaged.
• AE (account executive): the salesperson who works and closes an account.
• CSM (customer success manager): the person responsible for an existing customer's adoption and renewal.
• EHR (electronic health record): the software a practice uses to keep patient records.
• RCM (revenue cycle management): the billing and collections work, and software, of a practice.
• MRR (monthly recurring revenue): the revenue a customer pays you each month.

Related: How does SignalRx research a practice?